Rick DeNatale wrote:

I'm pretty sure that missile is just the general term for a weapon that is
thrown or projected. A rock is a missile if it's thrown or projected
towards a target using a slingshot or the like.

In the original definition of the word, yes...rocks and arrows were
called missiles.
In the present aerospace usage fin-stabilized unguided rockets aren't
called "missiles"; otherwise Mighty Mouse and Hydra rockets would be
Mighty Mouse and Hydra missiles...as would Bazooka rounds; although if
an unguided rocket gets big enough, or has an atomic warhead, then
people start calling it a missile (i.e. Honest John).
Does the "missile" designation apply to unguided surface-to-surface
rockets only, as opposed to air-to-air or air-to-surface unguided rockets?


Otherwise the term guided missile would be redundant. The term unguided
missile is also in use.


Not very often, and usually in reference to a guided one that isn't
working right, or something with an atomic warhead on it, like the
above-mentioned Honest John. Guided missiles usually have an ability to
home on their target after launch, either via internal homing apparatus
(Sidewinder) or with external aid (Sparrow) or via external commands to
the missile (TOW).
I think the whole thing is in a state of flux between dictionary and
common usage; rather like the whole "shrapnel" mess in which the term
shrapnel is used in regards to fragments from an explosive's casing, as
opposed to a specific type of air-bursting shell designed to project
spherical sub-projectiles.
Then of course there are the gun and the rifle; and the clip and the
magazine.

Pat